Riri Riza's film wins Singapore award

After his success in directing Petualangan Sherina (Sherina's Adventure) and jointly producing Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's Up with Cinta?) with Mira Lesmana, Riri Riza has been awarded a new achievement to his credit.

On Friday, the filmmaker's latest venture Eliana, Eliana received Best Young Cinema and Best Critics Awards at the Singapore Film Festival. The film, which will be screened locally in June, was premiered at the festival on April 23.

The film is very personal for Riri Reza. "For me, this is the most challenging film, communicatively. In this film, I try to trust my creative instincts more, follow my intuition as a writer, creator and director," he said in a statement about Eliana, Eliana.

The movie centers on Eliana (Rachel Maryam) who wants to show her mother, Bunda (Jajang C. Noer) that she can survive on her own.

"This film is more like a statement about people's fragile state," Riri said. "I never thought this film would become a statement about women's problems, or problems between the younger and older generation. For me, this film is about ordinary people and is told in an extraordinary way." -- JP